Afghan Soldier Kills 2 US Troops ... Accidentally?

Afghan National Army soldiers patrol the village of Noor Khiel, Logar province, east Afghanistan, earlier this year. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

(Newser)
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Two more US troops were killed in Afghanistan by an Afghan soldier today, and while this brings the number of Americans killed at their colleagues' hands in August to 12, Afghan officials say these deaths were actually accidental. An Afghan army rep tells the AP that US and Afghan soldiers in Laghman province came under attack this morning; as they headed to take up their fighting positions, an Afghan soldier fell and his weapon accidentally discharged. The man apparently began to run after the unit commander started yelling at him, and air support that had arrived to provide backup fired on the fleeing soldier, killing him, says the rep.

Meanwhile, in Helmand province, 10 Afghan soldiers were killed when insurgents apparently aided by other soldiers attacked the security checkpoint where they were stationed. Six soldiers have been reported missing. A provincial spokesman claims the killings were an "insider plot," and that five of the missing soldiers have taken their guns and joined the Taliban, AFP reports. (Read more Afghanistan stories.)